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November 16, 2005
Algeria: Islamists' Bid To Ban Alcohol Fails
According to the New Zealand Herald, Islamist members of parliament had attempted to force a ban in the entire nation of Algeria. The house had been voting on a 2006 budget when they tried to add amendments which would have banned all sales of alcohol, closed breweries and turned them into manufacturers of soft drinks.
Abdelkader Bouchouarebi, president of parliament's legal affairs committee, said "The majority of members in the assembly rejected the amendments over alcohol, The proposals are contrary to the principle of free trade and Algeria's international commitments."
For a decade there has been a battle between fundamentalists and the authorities over issues of "pure" Islamic values. Alcohol is already hard to come by in most of the country.
President Abdelaziz Bouteflika was elected in 2004, and has tried to liberalise the economy to attract foreign investors. A trade deal has been brokered with the EU, which would eventually see customs barriers lifted,. In an effort to gain World Trade Organisation membership, Algeria needs to open up its economy to foreign markets.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at November 16, 2005 6:13 AM
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